Hinduism

Hinduism is an Indian religion and dharma, or way of life. It is the world's third-largest religion with

over 1.25 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global population, known as Hindus. Hindus are a
majority of the population in India, Nepal and Mauritius, and are widely found in mostly Asian
countries. The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in
the world, many practitioners refer to their tradition as Sanātana Dharma, "the eternal way" with
ancient origins beyond human history, as revealed in the Vedas. Another, though less fitting, self-
designation is Vaidika dharma, the 'dharma related to the Vedas.'
Hinduism includes a range of philosophies, and is linked by shared concepts, recognisable
rituals, cosmology, pilgrimage to sacred sites and shared textual resources that discuss
theology, philosophy, mythology, Vedic yajna, Yoga, agamic rituals, and temple building, among
other topics. Hinduism prescribes the eternal duties, such as honesty, refraining from injuring living
beings (ahimsa), patience, forbearance, self-restraint, and compassion, among others. Prominent
themes in Hindu beliefs include the four Puruṣārthas, the proper goals or aims of human life;
namely, Dharma (ethics/duties), Artha (prosperity/work), Kama (desires/passions)
and Moksha (liberation/freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth/salvation), as well
as karma (action, intent and consequences) and Saṃsāra (cycle of death and rebirth).